Computing apparatus for a calorimeter

ABSTRACT

In a calorimeter, a computing apparatus in which a rotating member is rotated in proportion to a flow quantity of a heat medium, a roller in abutting contact with the rotating member and being rotated by the rotation thereof, means displaces the roller in a pivotal motion responsive to the variation of temperature difference of the heat medium, and an indicator integrating and indicating heat quantity by obtaining the rotation of the roller. The rotational velocity of the roller is changed responsive to a change of the angle between the tangential direction of the rotating member and the axis of rotation of the roller at a point at which the roller is in contact with the rotating member. Such change of the angle is due to the variation of the temperature difference of the heat medium.

[ 51 May 22, 1973 [54] COMPUTING APPARATUS FOR A CALORIMETER [75]Inventors: 'Masahiro Soya, Kawasaki; Kensuke Aizawa, Yokohama; HiroakiHasegawa, Tokyo, all of Japan [73] Assignee: Tokico Ltd., Kawasaki-City,Kanagawa-Ken, Japan [22] Filed: Sept. 14, 1971 [21] App]. No.: 180,389

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 14, 1970 Japan ..45/80798,[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,613,447 10/1971 Ishiitawaet al ..73/l93 2/1914 Hottinger .Q ..73/193 5/1968 McGinn ..235/6l xPrimary ExaminerI-Ierbert Goldstein Attorney-Holman & Stern [57]ABSTRACT In a calorimeter, a computing apparatus in which a rotatingmember is rotated in proportion to a flow quantity of a heat medium, aroller in abutting contact with the rotating member and being rotated bythe rotation thereof, means displaces the roller in a pivotal motionresponsive to the variation of temperature difference of the heatmedium, and an indicator integrating and indicating heat quantity byobtaining the rotation of the roller. The rotational velocity of theroller is changed responsive to a change of the angle between thetangential direction of the rotating member and the axis of rotation ofthe roller at a point at which the roller is in contact with therotating member. Such change of the angle is due to the variation of thetemperature difference of the heat medi- 7 Claims, 4 Drawing FiguresPATENTED 3, 733 896 sum 1 [IF 3 PATENTEU HAYZZ I973 SHEET 3 UF 3BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a computingapparatus for a calorimeter, and more particularly, to a computingapparatus which is capable of a continuous multiplication of a flowquantity and temperature difference of a heat medium.

A calorimeter is generally used in an air conditioning apparatus, aheating apparatus for measuring heat quantity which a heat mediumabsorbs or radiates during cooling or heating. This calorimeter makesmultiplication of the flow quantity of the heat medium and thetemperature difference of the heat medium between points before andafter a heat exchanger provided in a heating or air conditioningapparatus, thereby obtaining its result as heat quantity.

PRIOR ART There has been used, as a computing apparatus for acalorimeter, a cam type apparatus in which a roller rotating inproportion to the flow quantity is revolving along a periphery of a camwhich is a part of a cam assembly consisting of a stationary cam and acam which is displaced in proportion to a temperature difference. Inthis apparatus, the result of computation is obtained in accordance withthe distance of the portion of the roller which has entered the recessof the cam (the interval of the recess of the. cam). This conventionalapparatus, however, is disadvantageous in that its revolving power islow and, accordingly, it is low in its measuring accuracy because it canonly make an intermittent computation. There has also been used anapparatus in which a differential gear is revolved in proportion to atemperature difference and the number of revolutions is computed as heatquantity. This conventional apparatus has a very complicated gearmechanism, so that manufacture and adjustment of the apparatus involvetroublesome work and the cost of manufacture is high.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a general object ofthe invention to eliminate the disadvantages of the aforementionedconventioned apparatus and to provide a novel and useful computingapparatus for a calorimeter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a computing apparatus fora calorimeter which is capable of a continuous or steplessmultiplication of the flow quantity of heat medium and its temperaturedifference. The apparatus according to the invention is capable ofresponding to a very small variation in temperature and therefore iscapable of measuring heat quantity with a high accuracy. The apparatusis also capable of measuring heat quantity accurately even at times whencomputation starts and ends.

A further object of the invention is to provide a computing apparatusfor a calorimeter which is of a very simple construction. The apparatussimply comprises a rotary member rotated by a flowmeter, a roller whichis in abutting contact with this rotary member and is rotated thereby,means for angularly displacing the roller in response to the temperaturedifierence, and an indicator which integrates and indicates heatquantity by the rotation of the roller. The means for displacing theroller can displace the roller with only a slight force by simplydisplacing the roller in a pivotal motion.

Other objects and features of the invention will be come apparent fromthe description made hereinbelow with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of oneembodiment of the computing apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the computing apparatus shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the principle of operation of thecomputing apparatus according to the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the computingapparatus according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS First, one embodiment of thecomputing apparatus according to the invention will be described withreference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view ofthe apparatus in a state in which the direction of the axis of rotationof the roller makes an angle of less than with the tangential directionof the disc at a point where the roller makes contact with the disc.FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus in a state in whichthe direction of the axis of rotation of the roller crosses at rightangles with the tangential direction of the disc at the aforementionedcontact point, i.e. astate in which the direction of rotation of theroller coincides with the tangential direction.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a rotating shaft 10 is rotated by a rotational forcewhich is an output of measurement in a flowmeter (not shown). Theflowmeter is adapted to measure the flow quantity of a heat medium suchas a warm water in case of a heating apparatus or a cold water in caseof an air conditioning apparatus which flows through a heat exchanger(not shown) provided for radiation or absorption of heat. A gear 11 isfixedly mounted at the upper end of the shaft 10. A gear 12 which is inmesh with the gear 11 is fixedly mounted on a shaft 13. The shaft 13 isrotated by a rotational force transmitted by the shaft 10. The rotationof the shaft 13 is transmitted through gears 14 and 15 to a shaft 16,whereby the integrated flow quantity of the heat medium is indicated onan indication part 18 of a counter 17.

In the meanwhile, the rotation of the shaft 10 is transmitted through ashaft 20 fixedly mounting a gear 19 which is in mesh with the gear 11 toa rotary disc 21 which is fixedly mounted on the shaft 20. The shaft 20which carries the gear 19 and the rotary disc 21 is supported in such amanner that it is slightly vertically slidable. Due to a resilient forceof a spring 24 provided between a stationary bearing 22 and a bearing 23mounted under the gear 19, the rotary disc 21, the shaft 20 and the gear19 are always subject to a force acting upwardly.

A roller 25 is fixed to a shaft 27 which is rotatably supported on aframe 26. A gear 29 fixedly mounted on one end of a shaft 28 is in meshwith a gear 30 which is fixedly mounted on one end of the shaft 27. Abevel gear 31 fixed to the other end of the shaft 28 is in mesh with abevel gear 32 fixed to the lower end of a shaft 33. The frame 26substantially has an inverted U shape, and is rotatabiy supported on abearing 34. A projection 35 is fixedly mounted on one side of the frame26,

and a pin 36 is mounted uprightly on the projection 35. A shaft 37 isfixed to the pin 36 and a pointer 38 is fixed at the upper end of theshaft 37. The pointer 38 is rotated with the shaft 37 and indicates thetemperature difference on an indicating scale plate 39.

A gear 40 fixedly mounted at the upper end of the shaft 33 is in meshwith a gear 41. The rotation of the gear 40 is transmitted through agear 41, a shaft 42 and gears 43 and 44 to a shaft 45. By the rotationof the shaft 45, calories computed in a manner to be described later areindicated on an indication part 47 of a counter 46.

A displacing lever 50 which substantially has a T- shape consists of apushing rod 48 and a pushing portion 49. The rod 48 of the displacinglever 50 is displaced rectilinearly in response to the variation in thetemperature difference between two temperature detection partsrespectively provided before and after the heat exchanger on the flowpassage of the heat medium. The amount of displacement of the rod 48 isin proportion to this difference in temperature. The mechanism forconverting the difference in temperature detected by the two temperaturedetection parts provided before and after the heat exchanger on the flowpassage of the heat medium into the amount of displacement are alreadyknown, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

The rectilinear displacement of the rod 48 of the displacing lever 50causes the pushing portion 49 to push the pin 36, thereby displacing theframe 26 in a pivotal movement. A spring 51 stretched between the shaft37 and a fixed part gives a rotational force to the frame 26 in adirection in which the pin 36 always abuts against the pushing portion49 of the displacing lever 50.

As the material of the rotary disc 21 and the roller 25, a material of arelatively large friction factor and of a large wear-resistingcharacteristic should preferably be used. In the present embodiment, therotary disc 21 is made of bakelite containing cloth, and the roller 25of tungsten carbide.

The operation of the apparatus of the above mentioned construction willbe described. When the heat medium flows through the heat medium passagepipe on which the heat exchanger is provided, the flow quantity of theheat medium is measured by the flowmeter and the number of rotationswhich is the result of the measurement is transmitted to the shaft 10.The rotation of the shaft is transmitted, on one hand, to the shaft 16through the gears 11 and 12, the shaft 13 and the gears 14 and 15. As aresult, the flow quantity of the heat medium is sequentially integratedand indicated on the indication part 18 of the counter 17.

The rotation of the shaft 10 is transmitted, on the other hand, to therotary disc 21 through gears 11 and 19 and the shaft Inasmuch as theheat medium is a hot medium such as a warm water in case of heatingwhereas it is a cold medium such as a cold water in case of cooling, theheat medium radiates heat when it passes through the heat exchangerduring heating or absorbs heat during cooling. The amount ofdisplacement which is proportionate to the variation in the temperaturedifference of the heat medium between the points before and after theheat exchanger on the flow passage of the heat medium due to theaforementioned heat radiation or absorption is transmitted to the rod 48of arrow A or B. Since the pin 36 is pulled by the spring 51 so that itis always in abutting contact with the pushing portion 49 of thedisplacing lever 50, the frame 26 which is integral with the projection35 to which the pin 36 is fixed is displaced in a pivotal motion afterthe shaft 33 in proportion to the rectilinear displacement of thedisplacing lever 50. Simultaneously, the roller 25 is also displaced ina pivotal motion integrally with the frame 26 while it remains incontact with the rotary disc 21. At this time, the contact point P ofthe roller 25 and the rotary disc 21 is on the axis of the shaft 33.Hence, when the roller 25 is displaced in a pivotal motion with theframe 26, the distance between the contact point P of the roller 25 andthe rotary disc 21 and a center Q of the rotary disc 21 does not change,but an angle 0 between a line R extending in the same direction as theaxis of rotation of the roller 25 and a tangential line S changes.

Since the rotary disc 21 is always in pressing contact with the roller25 by force of the spring 24, the roller 25 is rotated due to frictionbetween the rotary disc 21 and the roller 25 according to the rotationof the rotary disc 21. If peripheral velocity of the rotary disc 21 inthe tangential direction S at the point P is expressed as V androtational periphery velocity of the roller 25 as U 01V sin 6 If theflow quantity of the heat medium is expressed as q, the temperaturedifference of the heat medium between the points before and after theheat exchanger as AT and an average specific heat of the heat medium asc, the heat quantity E will be E cq'AT In the meanwhile, the rotationalvelocity of the rotary disc 21 is in proportion to the flow quantity qof the heat medium. Accordingly,

Vaq

Since the roller 25 is angularly displaced in proportion to thetemperature difference AT of the heat medium,

ATa sin 0 Accordingly, from the above proportional expressions (1), (3)and (4), a proportional expression Uaq'AT is obtained. Also, from theproportional expressions (2) and (5), a proportional expression E a U isobtained. This expression (6) shows that the heat quantity is inproportion to the peripheral velocity of the roller 25. Accordingly, theheat quantity can be known by obtaining the number of revolutions of theroller 25 which is rotated by the rotary disc 21.

When the rotary disc 21 is rotated by the rotational force transmittedfrom the shaft as described above, the roller is rotated due to thefriction between the rotary disc 21 and the roller 25 at a rotationalvelocity which, as will be described later, is in proportion to theangle 0 which in turn is dependent upon the temperature difference. Therotation of the roller 25 is transmitted to the shaft 45 through theshaft 27, gears and 29, the shaft 28, the bevel gears 31 and 32, theshaft 33, the gears 40 and 41, the shaft 42 and the gears 43 and 44. Dueto the rotation of the shaft 45, the heat quantity is indicated, in aunit of calorie, on the indicating part 47 of the counter 46. As thedisplacing lever 50 is displaced rectilinearly due to the variation ofthe temperature difference and the pin 36 is displaced in a pivotalmotion, the shaft 37 and the pointer 38 are also displaced in a pivotalmotion integrally with the pin 36, whereby the temperature difference ofthe heat medium is indicatedon the scale plate 39 by the pointer 38.

The maximum angular displacement of the frame 26 and the roller 25relative to the maximum rectilinear displacement is limited to smallerthan 90. When the axis R of rotation of the roller 25 coincides with thetangential line S of the rotary disc 21, the rotation of the roller 25becomes zero regardless of the rotation of the rotary disc 21. When theaxis R of rotation of the roller 25 is at right angles with thetangential line S of the rotary disc 21, the rotational peripheralvelocity of the roller 25 becomes equal to the tangential peripheralvelocity of the rotary disc 21 at the point P.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the apparatusaccording to the invention. In FIGS. 1 and 4, the same component partsare designated by the same reference numerals and the descriptionthereof will be omitted. The outer peripheral surface of a rotary drum(or a rotary disc) 60 is in abutting contact with a roller 25. Therotary drum 60 is rotated by rotational force transmitted from a shaft10 through a bevel gear 61 fixedly mounted at the upper end of the shaft10, a bevel gear 62 which is in mesh with the bevel gear 61 and a shaft63 carrying the bevel gear 62 at one end thereof. As in the case of theabove described first embodiment, the roller 25 is displaced in apivotal motion about a point at which it is in contact with the drum 60in response to the displacement of a displacing lever 50 which isdisplaced due to the variation of the temperature difference. As also inthe case of the first embodiment, a counter 46 driven by the roller 25indicates the heat quantity.

This invention is not limited to these embodiments but variousvariations and modifications may be made without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention.

What we claim is:-

l. A computing apparatus in a calorimeter having a flowmeter whichmeasures a How quantity of a heat medium passing through a heatexchanger provided for radiating or absorbing heat andtemperaturedifference displacement converting means for oftaning anamount of displacement proportionate to the temperature differences ofthe heat medium between points before and 6 after said heat exchanger ona flow passage of the heat medium, said apparatus comprising a rotatingmember which is rotated in a rotational velocity responsive to an outputwhich is the result of measurement of said flowmeter, a roller which isin abutting contact with said rotating member and is rotated due tofriction between said roller and said rotating member caused by rotationof said rotating member, a frame rotatably supporting said roller, adisplacing means for displacing said frame in a pivotal motion inproportion to the amount of displacement obtained by said temperaturedifference-displacement converting means, and a heat quantity indicatorwhich receives rotational force from said roller and integrates andindicates the heat quantity, said displacing means causing said frameand said roller to be displaced in a pivotal motion so that the anglebetween the tangential direction of said rotating member and the axis ofrotation of said roller at a contact point of said roller and saidrotating member is changed, and said roller rotated at a velocity whichis in proportion to a vector component in the direction of rotation ofsaid roller displaced in a pivotal motion of the tangential peripheralvelocity of said rotating member at said contact point, said vectorcomponent being in proportion to the result of multiplication of theflow quantity of the heat medium and the temperature difference of theheat medium, and said heat quantity indicator indicating the heatquantity by integrating the rotations of the roller.

2. The computing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said roller ispivotally supported on said frame so that the contact point of saidroller and said rotating member is on an extending line of the axis ofrotation of said frame.

3. The computing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotatingmember is a rotary disc and said roller is in abutting? contact with oneplane of said ro-l tary disc at a position apart from the center of saidro-; tary disc by a predetermined distance.

4. The computing apparatus as defined in claim 3 which further comprisesan energizing means for energizing said rotary disc in a direction tobring it in abutting contact with said roller.

5. The computing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said roller isin abutting contact with the outer peripheral surface of said rotatingmember having al predetermined radius.

6. The computing apparatus as defined in claim 1 which further comprisesa flow quantity indicator which receives revolutions which are output ofthe measurement of said flowmeter and integrates and indicates the flowquantity of the heat medium.

7. The computing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said displacingmeans consists of a displacing lever having a pushing portion at theforemost en thereof and being rectilinearly displaced, the pushingportion of said displacing lever being in abutting contact with a partof said frame thereby to displace it in a pivotal motion, and saidapparatus further comprising an energizing means for energizing saidframe in a direction in which said frame is constantly in contact withthe pushing portion of said displacing lever.

4 4! 4 II! I

1. A computing apparatus in a calorimeter having a flowmeter whichmeasures a flow quantity of a heat medium passing through a heatexchanger provided for radiating or absorbing heat and temperaturedifference displacement converting means for oftaning an amount ofdisplacement proportionate to the temperature differences of the heatmedium between points before and after said heat exchanger on a flowpassage of the heat medium, said apparatus comprising a rotating memberwhich is rotated in a rotational velocity responsive to an output whichis the result of measurement of said flowmeter, a roller which is inabutting contact with said rotating member and is rotated due tofriction between said roller and said rotating member caused by rotationof said rotating member, a frame rotatably supporting said roller, adisplacing means for displacing said frame in a pivotal motion inproportion to the amount of displacement obtained by said temperaturedifference-displacement converting means, and a heat quantity indicatorwhich receives rotational force from said roller and integrates andindicates the heat quantity, said displacing means causing said frameand said roller to be displaced in a pivotal motion so that the anglebetween the tangential direction of said rotating member and the axis ofrotation of said roller at a contact point of said roller and saidrotating member is changed, and said roller rotated at a velocity whichis in proportion to a vector component in the direction of rotation ofsaid roller displaced in a pivotal motion of the tangential peripheralvelocity of said rotating member at said contact point, said vectorcomponent being in proportion to the result of multiplication of theflow quantity of the heat medium and the temperature difference of theheat medium, and said heat quantity indicator indicating the heatquantity by integrating the rotations of the roller.
 2. The computingapparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said roller is pivotallysupported on said frame so that the contact point of said roller andsaid rotating member is on an extending line of the axis of rotation ofsaid frame.
 3. The computing apparatus as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid rotating member is a rotary disc and said roller is in abuttingcontact with one plane of said rotary disc at a position apart from thecenter of said rotary disc by a predetermined distance.
 4. The computingapparatus as defined in claim 3 which further comprises an energizingmeans for energizing said rotary disc in a direction to bring it inabutting contact with said roller.
 5. The computing apparatus as definedin claim 1 wherein said roller is in abutting contact with the outerperipheral surface of said rotating member having a predeterminedradius.
 6. The computing apparatus as defined in claim 1 which furthercomprises a flow quantity indicator which receives revolutions which areoutput of the measurement of said flowmeter and integrates and indicatesthe flow quantity of the heat medium.
 7. The computing apparatus asdefined in claim 1 wherein said displacing means consists of adisplacing lever having a pushing portion at the foremost end thereofand being rectilinearly displaced, the pushing portion of saiddisplacing lever being in abutting contact with a part of said framethereby to displace it in a pivotal motion, and said apparatus furthercomprising an energizing means for energizing said frame in a directionin which said frame is constantly in contact with the pushing portion ofsaid displacing lever.